Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Mogilyane honours victims of assimilation campaign

Photo: BTA

The 40th anniversary of protests by Bulgarian Turks against the so-called "revival process" (a forced assimilation campaign during communism in which people of Turkish descent were ordered to change their names and adopt Bulgarian ones - ed) was commemorated with a large rally near the village of Mogilyane.

Among those present at the rally were representatives of the four main parties in Turkey, Ankara's Consul General in Plovdiv Korhan Kungeru and Mustafa Kara of the Turkish Embassy in Sofia, BTA reported. In his speech, the leader of the Democracy, Rights and Freedoms (DPS) parliamentary group, Jevdet Chakurov, remembered 17-month-old Türkan, the youngest innocent victim of the name change campaign, 16-year-old Mümün from the village of Raven, 17-year-old Sezgin and many other victims of the forced assimilation campaign. 

On 26 December 1984, the authorities violently dispersed a demonstration by the people of Mogilyane. When the Bulgarian militia opened fire on the demonstrators, a stray bullet hit a 17-month-old Turkish girl, killing her. Her death provoked a strong reaction from the Turkish community. A fountain was later built in Türkan's memory.





Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

February begins with springlike temperatures

On Saturday, fog or low clouds will cover the plains and sheltered valleys. Minimum temperatures will be between 0 and 5°C, around 1°C in Sofia. Sunny weather will prevail during the day, with more clouds in the northeast and in the afternoon in the..

published on 1/31/25 7:05 PM

Tax authorities urge influencers and online content creators to pay taxes

In the midst of the campaign to pay taxes for the past 2024, the National Revenue Agency has reminded influencers, bloggers, vloggers and other online content creators, as well as traders on social networks, that they are obliged to declare their income..

published on 1/31/25 6:14 PM

Taxi drivers block access to Sofia Airport Terminal 2

Taxi drivers gathered at Sofia Airport in protest, blocking access to Terminal 2 for a short time on Friday afternoon. They are unhappy with the new rules for staying at the airport, which came into force on January 9. According to the new rules, one..

updated on 1/31/25 6:11 PM